Helen M. Blackwood at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Jurisdiction
- New York · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Helen M. Blackwood
Judge · Westchester County County Court
Biography
Professional career
- Elected judge of the Westchester County Supreme Court in New York’s 9th Judicial District, serving since November 3, 2015
- Judge, County Court, Westchester County, Elected, 2016 to 2025
- Prior judicial role: Judge of the Mount Vernon City Court (appointed 2009 by Mayor Clinton I. Young Jr.)
- She has also held the role of an acting justice on the Westchester County Supreme Court
Education
Additional information
- She has received the Betty Shabazz Award for Social Justice (2016) and the Harlem Black Achievers Award
- Current court assignment: County Court, Westchester County
- Judge Blackwood presides over cases in the Westchester County Supreme Court, covering the 9th Judicial District, which includes Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, and Westchester counties.
- Blackwood has been active in the Mount Vernon Bar Association, Westchester Black Bar Association, and other organizations, and has served on the board of the Westchester Medical Center.
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Recording and broadcasting
Statewide
New York statewide rules require permission before photographing, filming, videotaping, audiotaping, broadcasting, or telecasting in court facilities, including courtrooms.
Taking photographs, films or videotapes, or audiotaping, broadcasting or telecasting, in a courthouse including any courtroom, office or hallway thereof, at any time or on any occasion, whether or not the court is in session, is forbidden, unless permission of the Chief Administrator of the Courts or a designee of the Chief Administrator is first obtainedPart 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings ↗
Exhibits
Statewide
The official Guide to New York Evidence identifies court control over presentation of evidence as a statewide evidence topic; counsel should expect the assigned judge to control the mode and order of proof.
1.07. COURT CONTROL OVER PRESENTATION OF EVIDENCEGuide to New York Evidence: Article 1, General Provisions and Court's Role ↗
Published courtroom rules
Judge and named-part rules
Published judge / part rules (53 excerpts)
See document heading and cited passage; do not apply outside the issuing part or proceeding.
Official rules document ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27
Conferences and appearances
A. Appearances by Counsel with Knowledge and Authority: All counsel who appear before the Court must be familiar with the case and be fully authorized to enter into agreements as to both substantive and procedural matters on behalf of their clients. Attorneys appearing “of counsel” to the attorneys of record and self- represented parties shall be held to the same requirements. All counsel and self- represented parties must be on time for all scheduled appearances.
Source page 2Adjournments
B. Settlements and Discontinuances: If an action is settled, discontinued, or otherwise disposed of in any manner by the parties, counsel and self-represented parties shall immediately inform the Court by letter or email to the Part Clerks and Principal Law Clerk. Thereafter, counsel and self-represented parties shall timely file the appropriate stipulation through the New York State Courts E-Filing System (hereinafter “NYSCEF”) or by filing a Stipulation of Discontinuance with the Part Clerk, if not an e-filed case. The Court will not mark any matter settled unless it has received a copy of a Stipulation of Discontinuance, the original of which has been filed with the County Clerk.
Source page 2Communications with chambers
C. Conduct of Parties and Counsel: All parties and counsel must conduct themselves appropriately in all proceedings and in their communications with each other and the Court. Personal attacks upon parties or counsel will not be tolerated.
Source page 2Communications with chambers
D. Correspondence: All correspondence to the court must bear the full Title and Index Number of the action and indicate that a copy was sent to all other counsel or self-represented litigant(s) simultaneous with transmittal to the court. In all e- filed cases, correspondence must be transmitted to the court via NYSCEF. In cases that are not e-filed, correspondence to the court must be by email to the Part Clerks and Secretary and copied to all parties. Any ex-parte communication is strictly prohibited. Self-represented parties must not contact the Court’s Secretary or Law Clerk and must direct all communications through the Part Clerks.
Source page 2Adjournments
F. Scheduling: Counsel and any self-represented party should address questions about scheduling appearances or adjourning appearances to Part Clerks via email.
Source page 2Conferences and appearances
G. Duty Part: Subpoena records requests should be dropped off at the Civil Calendar Office window on the ninth floor and picked up at the same window 48 hours later.
Source page 2Filing and working copies
A. E-Filing Rules and Protocol: Counsel for all parties shall familiarize themselves with the statewide E-Filing Rules §§ 202.5-b and 202.5bb of the Uniform Rules
Source page 2Conferences and appearances
General questions about e-filing should be addressed to the E-Filing Resource Center at (646) 386-3033 or efile@nycourts.gov. Specific questions about local procedures should be addressed to the Westchester County Supreme Court Civil Calendar Office at (914) 824-5300.
Source page 3Filing and working copies
All documents filed in mandatory e-filed cases, except documents subject to the “opt out” provision of § 202.5-bb of the Uniform Rules for the New York State Trial Courts, or documents subject to e-filing in which consent is being withheld, are to be filed through NYSCEF. All submissions to the Court must be electronically filed, including proposed orders, judgments, and letters. Counsel and self-represented parties are expected to keep their contact information updated in NYSCEF.
Source page 3Communications with chambers
B. Working Copies: Working copies are required unless the parties are told otherwise by the Court. They must include a copy of the NYSCEF Confirmation Notice firmly fastened to the front cover page of the working copy and shall be mailed or hand-delivered so as to be received by chambers within 72 hours of submission by e-filing.
Source page 3Conferences and appearances
a. Orders to Show Cause submitted for signature shall be presented to the office of the Calendar Clerk, after payment of any required fee at the County Clerk’s Office.
Source page 3Motion practice
b. Generally, an Order to Show Cause filed via NYSCEF is reviewed by the Court by the business day after filing. If a submission requires more immediate attention, please contact the Law Clerk or Secretary after the Order to Show Cause is filed. All motions shall be made returnable before the Court on any Wednesday the Court is in session at 9:30 a.m. and shall include a proposed order of relief.
Source page 3Motion practice
c. When an Order to Show Cause is to be presented to the Court which seeks temporary injunctive relief, including but not limited to a stay or a temporary restraining order, counsel for the moving party or any self-represented party shall demonstrate compliance with §202.7 (f) of the Uniform Rules for the New York State Trial Courts, regarding notice to affected parties.
Source page 3Motion practice
e. Unless otherwise advised by the Court, all motions are by submission only. Any proposed Order to Show Cause should include a space for the Court to set forth a briefing schedule for opposition papers, reply papers, and, if necessary, an appearance date. A request for oral argument may be made on the first page of the Notice of Motion, Order to Show Cause or answering papers. The Court will determine whether oral argument is appropriate. If the Court requests appearances or oral argument in connection with a motion, or Order to Show Cause, the parties will be notified in advance of the date and time for their appearance. Otherwise, no appearance is required, and no oral argument will be heard on the return date of the motion.
Source page 4Adjournments
C. All papers in connection with a motion shall be received by the Court prior to, or on the return date of the motion. If opposition, cross-moving, or reply papers are not submitted by the return date, the opportunity to do so will be lost, unless an adjournment is arranged prior to the return date or Court permission is obtained.
Source page 4Adjournments
D. The Court does not permit litigation by way of letter or any other correspondence, be it by way of e-mail, fax, personal delivery, etc., from counsel or any party acting pro se. Correspondence addressing anything other than procedural issues, such as, but not limited to, adjournments, will not be considered by the Court absent prior Court approval. Any unauthorized communications will be disregarded, will not be acted upon, and will not be considered. Counsel receiving an unauthorized communication need not, and shall not, reply. Violations are subject to the imposition of sanctions, particularly in the case of repeat offenders.
Source page 4Adjournments
E. All communications regarding motions, including requests for adjournments and questions concerning the status of motions, must be directed to the Part Clerks. If the Part Clerks are unavailable, the communication regarding a motion may be directed to the Law Clerk or the Secretary.
Source page 4Communications with chambers
F. All motion papers submitted to the Court, including orders to show cause, must be legible, and should be typewritten, with all exhibits labeled with tab markings. Motion papers and all correspondence must indicate the index number assigned to the action.
Source page 4Motion practice
G. In the event the parties settle a motion or part of a motion before the motion return date or a decision has been rendered, they shall immediately inform the Court in writing by emailing our Part Clerks, Law Clerk and Secretary.
Source page 4Motion practice
1. Written Decisions: In most instances, a written decision and order will be issued by the Court following submission of the motion. The decision and order, with supporting papers, will be e-filed through NYSCEF. If a party opts-out from participation in e-filing, a copy of the order shall be faxed or mailed to that party.
Source page 4Filing and working copies
2. Bench Decisions: In certain instances, the Court will render a decision from the bench. Any party seeking a written order shall submit to the Court a proposed order supported by a copy of the transcript of the proceedings at which the bench decision was rendered. The signed order will be e-filed by the Court through NYSCEF, and fax or mailed to any party that opts-out from participating in e- filing.
Source page 5Adjournments
a. A request to adjourn a motion must be made in writing. If it is an e-filed case, the requested must be filed in NYSCEF. If it is not an e-filed case, the request must be transmitted by email to the Part Clerks, or in their absence, the Principal Law Clerk, prior to the return date of the motion, copied to all counsel and self-represented parties.
Source page 5Adjournments
b. Submission of Late Papers: To protect movants against any potential prejudice resulting from the submission of late opposition papers or cross-motions, the Court may sua sponte adjourn for one-week cases in which appropriate time has not been given to opposing parties. Parties seeking an adjournment must follow the direction delineated below in order to adjourn a motion.
Source page 5Adjournments
c. Adjournments by Stipulation: A party seeking an adjournment must contact all other parties in an effort to obtain consent and demonstrate such efforts to the Court. No more than three adjournments for a total of 60 days are allowed except with the Court’s permission (see § 202.8 [e] [1] of the Uniform Rules for the New York State Trial Courts), which shall be given by means of a so-ordered stipulation signed by all parties in the action or proceeding.
Source page 5Adjournments
d. Adjournments by Affidavit/Affirmation of Consent: If all parties consent to an adjournment as allowed by these rules, but a written stipulation cannot be obtained in time for submission, the applicant for the adjournment on consent may submit an affidavit or affirmation reciting that such consent was obtained. The affidavit/affirmation of consent must state the reason for the adjournment request, how consent was obtained from all parties, when it was obtained, and the name of each attorney or self-represented party who gave oral consent. The affidavit/affirmation must be received by the Court on or before the scheduled submission date.
Source page 5Adjournments
e. Adjournments Without Consent: If consent for an adjournment cannot be obtained from all parties prior to the return date, a party may: (1) make a letter application to chambers for an adjournment (by email to Part Clerks or through NYSCEF), on notice to all other parties having appeared in the action or proceeding, or (2) appear on the return date of a motion at 9:30 a.m. and state on the record before the Court the reason for the requested adjournment and a description of the efforts made to obtain such consent, including the date when contact was initiated or attempted, the means
Source page 5Adjournments
used, and the person contacted (if consent was refused) or for whom a message was left (if no contact was made). No motion shall be considered adjourned unless the Part Clerk or Principal Law Clerk has conveyed the Court’s approval of an adjournment.
Source page 6Communications with chambers
B. The court encourages, and is available to facilitate, the settlement of all matters. Accordingly, in any case assigned to this Part, where all parties consent, they may contact chambers to request a conference for the purpose of resolving motions pending before this Court or settling the entire matter. If the parties agree to attend a Court conference, this shall not serve to delay the submission of any motion, nor as a stay of the proceedings.
Source page 6Conferences and appearances
C. Counsel attending the Settlement Conference must be fully familiar with the action and authorized to discuss all factual and legal issues presented by the litigation, settlement demands or offers, witness scheduling, and trial procedure – including, for example, whether any party or witness will require a translator or accommodation.
Source page 6Conferences and appearances
D. Counsel must also be authorized to enter into binding settlements on terms agreeable to the parties and to the Court. Counselors are advised that, in an effort to foster open settlement discussions, the Court may meet with counsel separately during the discussions. Counselors are presumed to have consented to the Court doing so unless an objection is stated.
Source page 6Conferences and appearances
A. A Pre-Trial Conference with all counsel and self-represented parties will be conducted before the commencement of jury selection or the non-jury trial. Approximately one month prior to the Pre-Trial Conference, on the date specified by the Court, counsel and self-represented parties must provide the
Source page 6Trial exhibits and witnesses
3. A copy of each exhibit the party expects to use at trial, including any part of a transcript of an examination before trial which may be used, with an index thereto indicating which exhibits are stipulated for admission into evidence or are marked only for identification.
Source page 7Trial exhibits and witnesses
5. In all jury trials, a complete list of requests to charge. If a requested charge is drawn from the current Patter Jury Instructions (PJI), only the PJI number and title need be submitted. Where deviation from, or additions to, the PJI are requested, the full text of such request must be submitted in writing highlighting the deviations, together with any supporting legal precedents.
Source page 7Trial exhibits and witnesses
6. Proposed Verdict Sheet. Counsel for the parties and any self-represented parties shall jointly prepare a verdict sheet. If agreement cannot be reached, each party shall present a proposed verdict sheet which shall be served upon all other parties. The verdict sheet shall be in a final typewritten from, which may be given to the jury. In addition, the proposed verdict sheet(s) shall be submitted by email to the Principal Law Clerk, Michelle A. Calvi, at macalvi@nycourts.gov.
Source page 7Conferences and appearances
B. At the Pre-Trial conference the Court will discuss issues raised in the parties’ written submissions. Additionally, the parties should be prepared with the
Source page 7Filing and working copies
A. Trial Preparation: Prior to the commencement of the trial or hearing, counsel shall ascertain the availability of all witnesses and subpoenaed documents. Counsel for any party or any self-represented party who has issued subpoenas for the production of records shall request that the Part Clerk requisition all subpoenaed documents from the file room.
Source page 7Trial exhibits and witnesses
2 Each trial notebook binder shall be a maximum of two inches. 7
Source page 7Motion practice
B. Conference: The court will conduct a conference prior to trial to discuss preliminary matters. At this conference, all counsel and self-represented parties shall be prepared to discuss scheduling, as well as the number of witnesses to be called at trial, any anticipated issues regarding attendance at trial of any party, attorney, or witness, and any other practical problems the Court should consider in scheduling. In addition, the Court will address any outstanding legal issues and motions.
Source page 8Trial exhibits and witnesses
C. Interpreters and Special Services: Attorneys and any self-represented party must immediately advise the Part Clerks at the time of scheduling trial/hearing/inquest if the services of a foreign language interpreter are required for any party or witness or if any special services are requested for any part or witness who is hearing-impaired or who has any other disability. It is incumbent upon the requesting party to keep the Court informed of any changes to this request.
Source page 8Trial exhibits and witnesses
D. Trial Aids: Attorneys and self-represented parties must supply all audio, visual or other trial aids, such as screens/monitors, easels, blackboards, shadow boxes, etc. unless advised otherwise by the Court.
Source page 8Conferences and appearances
E. Pleadings and Submissions Due Immediately Upon Appearance: Immediately upon being assigned to this Part for a trial or hearing, counsel for each party and any self-represented party shall report to the Part Clerks and in his / her absence, the Law Clerk and must provide the Court with all marked pleadings and exhibits.
Source page 8Filing and working copies
F. Marking of Exhibits: After filing the exhibit with the Court, counsel and any self- represented party shall meet with the assigned Official Stenographer to pre-mark all exhibits for identification. Any exhibits whose admission is agreed upon by the parties shall be pre-marked for admission.
Source page 8Trial exhibits and witnesses
G. Copies of Transcripts: If any part of a transcript of an examination before trial or other recorded proceeding will be read as evidence-in-chief, the proponent of the transcript shall provide a complete copy of it to the Court, with citations to the page and line numbers for all portions to be read.
Source page 8Conferences and appearances
H. Addressing the Court: If it is believed that argument on an objection is necessary, to avoid any inappropriate influence on the jury, any counsel or self-represented party shall ask permission to approach the bench for a sidebar conference to discuss the matter. If requested, any counsel or self-represented party will be given the opportunity to make a full record of his or her position.
Source page 8Conferences and appearances
I. Summation Exhibits: Any counsel or self-represented party who intends during summation to use any type of demonstrative exhibit not marked into evidence must advise the Court and all other counsel and self-represented parties of that intention at the pre-charge conference and provide a copy of such exhibit to the court, all counsel and to the self-represented parties. Failure to comply with this
Source page 8Trial exhibits and witnesses
J. Check-in: At the start of each day of trial, all counsel and self-represented parties shall check in with the Part Clerk so that she will be aware of your presence.
Source page 9Filing and working copies
L. Post-Trial Submissions: If applicable, in accordance with the schedule set by the Court at the conclusion of a trial, the parties must jointly submit a transcript of the proceeding and each party must prepare and submit post-trial memorandum.
Source page 9Filing and working copies
M. Trial Conclusion: At the conclusion of trial, counsel and any self-represented party are expected to e-file any exhibits admitted into evidence and any other document required to complete the record for purposes of any appeal. In addition, all materials used during the trial must be removed from the courtroom within 48 hours of the conclusion of the trial. All materials not timely removed will be discarded.
Source page 9Communications with chambers
E. Attorney-Client Communication: Prior to engaging in any private communication with his / her client during a virtual court proceeding, counsel must first announce an intention to do so.
Source page 9Trial exhibits and witnesses
F. Visibility: A witness and counsel must be visible on screen, while under oath during a virtual court proceeding, whether together in the same room or in separate physical locations.
Source page 9Communications with chambers
G. Electronic Devices: All electronical devices that are not being used to communicate with the Court must be placed on mute.
Source page 9Trial exhibits and witnesses
H. Messaging: Counsel, parties and witnesses must be aware that all Teams messaging is public and persistent in that it is never erased.
Source page 9Artificial intelligence
A. Counsel and any self-represented party must disclose to the court if any portion of their written submission to the Court was generated by any form of artificial intelligence and if so, what portion thereof utilized this form of technology.
Source page 10Shared court rules
22 NYCRR Part 200 — Uniform Rules Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction
Westchester County County Court
State criminal proceedings only; section-specific court and case exceptions remain applicable.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-2722 NYCRR Part 202 — Uniform Civil Rules Supreme Court And County Court
Westchester County County Court
Civil actions and proceedings only; section-specific and specialized-part restrictions remain applicable.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings
Westchester County County Court
Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings
Westchester County County Court
Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Sources
Identity source checked July 27, 2026.
Biography sources checked July 27, 2026.
New York State Unified Court System official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 27, 2026
View New York State Unified Court System official judicial roster ↗Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings ↗Guide to New York Evidence: Article 1, General Provisions and Court's Role
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Guide to New York Evidence: Article 1, General Provisions and Court's Role ↗